No date for work on missing link to Vermont
Q Recently en route to Vermont, I noted that after exiting the Eastern Townships Highway 10, Highway 35 and Route 133 had both changed almost all the way to Venise-en-Québec with straightened and new sections. Have I missed any news notifications of this improvement? Kenneth Fisher, St-Laurent
A The extension of Highway 35 to the Vermont border has been a long-standing project going back to the 1960s. While Highway 35 is a proper highway with two lanes in each direction, and exits and entrances, it ends at Route 133 — a narrow three-lane highway passing through small towns, that some motorists and truckers have complained is dangerous.
In 2005, the Quebec government began work to complete the link between the end of Highway 35 and the beginning of Interstate 89, which leads both to Burlington, and Boston. The $244-million project was partially funded by the federal government in order to improve a much-used route between the U.S. and Canada.
A 24.5-kilometre stretch to the town of St-Sébastien was opened in 2014, leaving just 13.5 kilometres to the border.
However, there has been no commitment yet by the provincial government to complete the missing link. In 2014, thenpremier Pauline Marois said she hoped it would be done by 2017, but there is no construction happening now on the extension, so that deadline will likely be missed.
The current provincial government has not promised any completion date.
According to the Transport Quebec website dedicated to the project, there already is federal funding lined up to complete the project. However, the last two phases of the project are still listed as “under study” in the most recent 10-year plan for investment outlined by the province.
Q A few months ago, when in an overzealous mood, I bought $50 worth of clicks on my Opus card at a nearby dépanneur. At the time, I took a 24 bus once or more per week to my class at McGill at 688 Sherbrooke St.W. Since then, my sense of balance has deteriorated badly and I now use a walker (I am 87 years old). I have become used to using a driver, and I can see I will never return to city buses. I have 48 “clicks” left on my Opus card. How can I get the money back? Sheila Whitzman, Westmount
A Unfortunately the rules governing the Opus card reimbursement are quite strict, and it is difficult to qualify for a cash refund, said Amélie Régis, a spokeswoman for the Société de transport de Montréal.
But fortunately, you can probably get a refund, Régis said.
“In the case of a person who can no longer use public transit for reasons of illness or reduced mobility, that customer can be reimbursed,” Régis said, adding that the customer would likely need a doctor’s note to prove their mobility has been reduced.
The trouble, however, is that customers wishing to get a refund have to go to one of the STM customer service centres, which could be a long trip, depending on where you live.
The main customer service centre is at the Berri-UQAM station, but there are service centres at the Côte-Vertu, Lionel- Groulx, Honoré-Beaugrand and Jean-Talon stations, or the Fairview bus terminal.
All those stations except for the Honoré Beaugrand station are accessible to wheelchairs. Customers can designate someone to go to one of the services centres for them, Régis said.
Because we often get questions about the reimbursement policy for Opus cards, we will outline the other reasons for reimbursement.
They include losing a job, or having an Opus card that expired.
You can also get a refund if you accidentally purchased two monthly passes on the same card.